Illustrator - How to convert the RGB colour mode to CMYK

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Below is some information on how to set up an Illustrator file on the CMYK colour mode, and how to convert an existing illustrator file from RGB to CMYK.

 

Setting up Your Illustrator file in CMYK

First, open an new file in Illustrator by choosing: "File" > "New". The below image shows how to open a new Illustrator file on an Apple-Mac.

 

Next, fill in the set-up details (i.e.: give the Illustrator file a name, select your size, etc). The red arrow below is the dropdown menu for the colour mode of the Illustrator file. The colour mode on the below picture is already CMYK, so it does not need to be changed.

 

If the colour mode on your Illustrator set-up is RGB, the click on the Color Mode drop-down menu and the other options will appear.

Choose CMYK and your file will then have the correct colour mode.

 

Converting an illustrator file from RGB to CMYK

If you already have an existing Illustrator file, then changing it to CMYK is simple.

Choose: "File" > "Document Color Mode" (see red arrow below).

The above image shows that the current colour mode on the Illustrator file is RGB.

To alter the colour mode to CMYK, just click on the CMYK Color text box (see below).

Your Illustrator file is now running with the CMYK color mode.

 

If you want to know more about how to set up an Adobe Illustrator file for printing, view our "How to prepare Adobe Illustrator files for printing" page.